Ask a Designer: How Can I Decorate My Living Room With English Country Style?

Every week, we're asking designer Scot Meacham Wood, formerly of Ralph Lauren and now owner of his eponymous design firm, a question from our readers. This week's topic is about getting the iconic, Ralph Lauren-inspired English country style look at home. Have a decorating dilemma? Comment below and yours might be featured in a future installment.

Q: How do I get a layered, Ralph Lauren-inspired living room without spending too much money? Also, I love black furniture, but is a black velvet couch too much?

A: Mariette, luckily you've come to the right person. I worked for Mr. Lauren in his West Coast stores for almost 14 years. I assume when you say "Ralph Lauren-inspired room" you are referring to his iconic English country house style. Though he does many, many styles, this one seems to be what he is best known for.

One of the great hallmarks of those spaces is that they possess a layered, almost "ancestral" attitude. Though these rooms rarely come together without spending a certain amount of money, the best way to get your desired space is just to get started. Begin with adding more artwork to your walls. I always love working with a mixture of classic paintings, abstract drawings, and a few pieces of modern photography to keep things fresh. For the color palette, a classic dark one will give the room some drama — think about trying dark, sexy oxblood colors paired with rich olive tones. For textiles, I'd stick with the basics: tweeds, tartans, and some suiting wools and velvets. I'd also take a look at adding some brass accessories such as table lamps.

I love your idea of a velvet sofa, but I think you might be better served if you moved from black to a deep chocolate brown. Or, if you can manage to not break the bank, a leather sofa would be marvelous too.

In the photo above from my own home, there's a serious frenzy of artwork. I rearrange the collection every few years. But, because of all the movement and activity on the walls, all of my furniture is really simple. I have a velvet sofa too, with a collection of chairs in leathers, tartans, and tiger-printed velvet.

In any space with a collected, layered look, your biggest investment is going to be your time — so just get started. My home has morphed and evolved numerous times over the 20 years I've lived there. Much like life, I sometimes find the "design journey" to be as interesting as the "design destination."

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